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Udupi · Karnataka

Sri Krishna Matha

Sri Krishna Matha — Udupi, Karnataka

Sri Krishna Matha; established by Madhvacharya (1285 CE on Makara Sankranti) — west-facing Bala-Krishna idol; Kanaka Kindi (the inner Navagraha-kindi 9-hole window + the outer Kanakana-kindi torana darshan window); the Ashta-matha system (Palimaru + Adamaru + Krishnapura + Puttige + Shiroor + Sodhe + Kaniyooru + Pejavara); a 2-yearly Paryaya rotation; the principal tirtha of the Dvaita-Vedanta (Tattvavada) sampradaya; among the Seven Mukti Sthalas of Parashurama Kshetra

अन्य नाम: Udupi Sri Krishna Matha · Udipi Krishna Matha · Udupi Krishna Temple · Madhva Tirtha

  • The supreme tirtha of the Dvaita-V…
  • The world's unique west-facing Kri…
  • The Ashta-matha system
  • Among the Seven Mukti Sthalas of P…
Sri Krishna Matha
दर्शन समय
04:00 – 21:00 (Ekanta Seva closing at 20:30)
स्वरूप
Bala-Krishna idol
स्थान
Udupi · Karnataka
उत्तम ऋतु
Saptotsava ~9-15 January 2026
काल
13th century CE

इस मन्दिर की विशेषता

  • The supreme tirtha of the Dvaita-Vedanta (Madhva Tattvavada) sampradaya; the centre of the Madhva sampradaya
  • The world's unique west-facing Krishna tirtha — the Kanaka Kindi window-darshan tradition (a 16th-century outcome of the Kanaka Dasa narrative)
  • The Ashta-matha system + 2-yearly Paryaya rotation = the world's unique hereditary-rotation administration tirtha (a 500+ year-old tradition)
  • Among the Seven Mukti Sthalas of Parashurama Kshetra (Kollur Mookambika + Udupi Krishna + Kukke Subrahmanya + Kumbashi Anegudde Vinayaka + Koteshwara + Shankaranarayana + Gokarna Mahabaleshwar)
  • Together with Guruvayur, one of the two principal tirthas that celebrate Krishna Janmashtami on the solar Ashtami-Rohini
  • Not in the 108 Divya Desams (Madhva sampradaya; outside the Alvar-Vaishnava tradition)
01
मूल विग्रह

मुख्य देव एवं स्वरूप

Sri Bala-Krishna (idol carved from saligrama stone — holding a churning rod (mathani) + churning rope (curd-churning rope); per tradition, commissioned by Rukmini and sculpted by Vishvakarma; the idol is west-facing on account of the Kanaka Dasa narrative); upadevathas: Mukhya-Prana (the central Hanuman upasana of the Madhva tirtha)

Bala-Krishna idol (saligrama stone; ~3.5 ft tall); west-facing (on account of the Kanaka Dasa darshan narrative); the idol is darshan-ed only through the Kanaka Kindi (the western-wall window), comprising two parts: the inner Navagraha Kindi (9 holes) + the outer Kanakana Kindi (a torana-form arch)

सम्प्रदाय: Dvaita Vedanta (Madhva Tattvavada) — founded by Madhvacharya; administered by the 8-matha (Ashta-matha) Paryaya-rotation system (Palimaru + Adamaru + Krishnapura + Puttige + Shiroor + Sodhe + Kaniyooru + Pejavara) on 2-yearly term rotation; the 2026-2028 Paryaya is the Shiroor Matha (Sri Vedavardhana Tirtha Swamiji; assumed charge on 18 January 2026); the 2028-2030 Paryaya is the Sodhe Matha

02
स्थल-पुराण

कथा, इतिहास एवं महत्व

The Sri Krishna idol shipwreck-origin narrative

The origin of the Sri Bala-Krishna idol — per tradition, the idol was conceived by Rukmini and sculpted by Vishvakarma from saligrama stone; self-worshipped by Krishna at Dwaraka; after Krishna's departure, it was buried in gopichandana clay. A Dwaraka sailor used the clay lump as ballast on his ship; during a violent storm off the Malpe coast (near Udupi), Madhvacharya used his yogic powers to save the ship and received the clay lump. On breaking it open, both the Bala-Krishna and Balarama vigrahas were revealed. The Balarama idol was installed at the Vadabhandeshwara temple (Malpe), and the Krishna idol was consecrated at the Udupi Matha on Makara Sankranti in 1285 CE.

The Kanaka Dasa + Kanaka Kindi narrative (the west-facing turn)

In the 16th century, the Haridasa saint Kanaka Dasa (1509-1609; a disciple of Vyasatirtha) was denied entry through the eastern door of the temple on account of caste. He sat outside the western wall of the temple and sang bhakti songs in fervent devotion. Per tradition: the Krishna idol turned of its own accord to face west, and a small window appeared in the western wall through which Kanaka Dasa received darshan. Ever since, the idol has been west-facing, and devotees take darshan through this Kanaka Kindi (the inner Navagraha Kindi 9-hole window + the outer Kanakana Kindi torana arch).

The Ashta-matha founding and Paryaya rotation system

Madhvacharya entrusted the leadership of 8 mathas to his 8 principal disciples: Palimaru, Adamaru, Krishnapura, Puttige, Shiroor, Sodhe, Kaniyooru, Pejavara. Each matha, in order, takes the 2-year Paryaya term for managing the temple worship (a complete 16-year cycle); the Paryaya handover happens around 02:30 AM on 18 January of even years at the Paryaya Mahotsava ceremony. The tradition is 500+ years old (per Wikipedia, completing 500 years in 2021). Preparatory ceremonies one year prior: Baale + Akki + Kattige + Batha.

The Madhvacharya disappearance narrative (at the Anantheshwara temple)

In his 79th year, Madhvacharya disappeared at the Anantheshwara Temple (an 8th-century Alupa-built Shiva temple adjacent to the Udupi Krishna Matha, managed by the Puttige Matha) during a discourse on the Aitareya Upanishad amid a shower of flowers; per tradition, he proceeded with Vyasa to Badarikashrama and is chiranjeevi — the central narrative of Madhva Navami.

The annadana tradition (the world-renowned Udupi cuisine style)

Daily annadana — lunch 12:00-14:00 + dinner 19:00-21:00; traditional Udupi cuisine style (sambar, rasam, manni, payasam); supported by the Ashta-matha system.

संत एवं परम्परा

  • Madhvacharya (traditional 1238-1317 / alternate 1199-1278) — founder of the Dvaita Vedanta (Tattvavada) sampradaya; Udupi Krishna Matha + the Anantheshwara temple disappearance (Madhva Navami); founder of the Ashta-matha system
  • Vishvakarma (traditional) — sculptor of Rukmini's commissioned Krishna idol
  • Kanaka Dasa (1509-1609) — Haridasa saint; disciple of Vyasatirtha; central to the Kanaka Kindi narrative; composer of ~240 Kannada devarnamas; pen name 'Kaginele Adikeshava'
  • Purandara Dasa (1484-1564) — Kanaka Dasa's contemporary Haridasa; the father of Carnatic music; codifier of the Svaravali + Alankara + Mayamalavagowla teaching tradition; composer of Udupi bhakti songs
  • Vyasatirtha (1460-1539) — Madhva swami of an earlier Paryaya; guru of both Kanaka Dasa and Purandara Dasa
  • The 8 Ashta-matha swamis' lineages — Palimaru + Adamaru + Krishnapura + Puttige + Shiroor + Sodhe + Kaniyooru + Pejavara; the 2-yearly Paryaya rotation
  • Sri Vedavardhana Tirtha Swamiji of the Shiroor Matha — the current Paryaya (2026-2028; assumed charge on 18 January 2026)
  • The Puttige Matha — manager of the Anantheshwara temple
  • Sri Raghavendra Tirtha (Puttige Matha, 16th century) — renovator of the Madhva Sarovara with stone slabs

ऐतिहासिक घटनाक्रम

  1. 8008th century CE — the Anantheshwara temple (Shiva) is built by the Alupa dynasty; Udupi's oldest temple — Wikipedia Anantheshwara + Udupi Pages + Templetimings multi-source
  2. 1285Makara Sankranti 1285 CE — Madhvacharya establishes the Udupi Krishna Matha and consecrates the Bala-Krishna idol (per the Malpe-coast shipwreck narrative) — Wikipedia Madhvacharya + Karnataka.com + Holydham 3+ multi-source
  3. 1317Traditional date (per Madhva tradition) — Madhvacharya, in his 79th year, disappears at the Anantheshwara temple during a discourse on the Aitareya Upanishad; departs for Badarikashrama (the Madhva Navami narrative) — Wikipedia + Madhva tradition
  4. 152116th century — Kanaka Dasa (1509-1609) and the Kanaka Kindi narrative; establishment of the west-facing Krishna-darshan tradition — Wikipedia Kanakana Kindi + India-A2Z multi-source
  5. 2021The Paryaya system completes 500 years — Wikipedia Paryaya
  6. 202618 January 2026 — Sri Vedavardhana Tirtha Swamiji of the Shiroor Matha assumes charge (Paryaya 2026-2028); 19 January 2026 — new dress code: men required to remove shirts throughout the day — The Week + Daijiworld + The Federal + Deccan Chronicle multi-source
03
नित्य उपासना

दर्शन समय एवं आरती

04:00 से 21:00 (Ekanta Seva closing at 20:30) तक · मध्याह्न विश्राम 12:00-16:00

Temple opens04:00
Daily
Nirmalya Visarjana05:00
Daily
Mangala Aarti05:30
Daily
Ushakala Puja06:00
Daily
Akshaya Patra Go-puja06:15
Daily
Vishwaroopa Darshana06:20
Daily
Panchamrita Abhisheka06:30
Daily
Udvartana Puja07:00
Daily
Kalasha Puja07:30
Daily
Teertha Puja07:40
Daily
(Temple midday break)12:00-16:00
Daily
Mahapuja19:30
Daily
Chariot procession (Utthana Dwadashi to monsoon)19:00-20:00
Seasonal daily
Ekanta Seva (temple closes)20:30
Daily

वस्त्र-संहिता: (Effective throughout the day from 19 January 2026 per the Shiroor Matha's new dress code): Men: shirts must be removed (a shawl is allowed); dhoti or pants; shorts forbidden. Women: saree/salwar-kameez/long skirt; sleeveless/short/jeans/T-shirts forbidden for all. Previously the men's shirt-removal rule applied only up to the 11 AM Mahapuja

फोटोग्राफी: Photography forbidden in the garbhagriha; precinct photography allowed with permission

विशेष नियम: Darshan of the idol is only through the Kanaka Kindi window (after entry via the eastern door); midday break 12:00-16:00 has no darshan; the dress code applies throughout the day (from 19 January 2026); the traditional order of Anantheshwara + Chandramoulishwara darshan before the Udupi Krishna Matha (Chandramoulishwara → Anantheshwara → Krishna Matha)

04
दर्शन

दर्शन के प्रकार

General Free Darshan (through the Kanaka Kindi window)निःशुल्क
समय
04:00-12:00 + 16:00-21:00

Darshan of the west-facing Bala-Krishna idol through the Kanaka Kindi (the inner Navagraha-kindi 9-hole window + the outer Kanakana-kindi torana arch).

Vishwaroopa Darshana (morning)निःशुल्क
समय
06:20 daily

Darshan of the idol's divine alankara; after the Mangala Aarti.

Panchamrita Abhisheka + special archana seva

Personal/family name-and-gotra; booked at the current Paryaya matha's office.

Daily Annadana (lunch + dinner)निःशुल्क
समय
12:00-14:00 + 19:00-21:00

World-renowned Udupi cuisine style traditional meal (sambar, rasam, manni, payasam); Ashta-matha supported.

Chariot procession darshan (Utthana Dwadashi to monsoon)निःशुल्क
समय
Evening 19:00-20:00

Daily temple-chariot procession; seasonal only.

Saptotsava darshan (annual 7-day; from 5 days before Makara Sankranti)निःशुल्क

Begins ~9 January; Theppotsava + Brahma Ratha procession + 3 chariot festivals; Makara Sankranti is the peak — the idol-installation anniversary.

Paryaya Mahotsava darshan (biennial; 18 January in even years)निःशुल्क

The Ashta-matha rotation Paryaya handover ceremony; ~02:30 AM; in 2026 the Shiroor Matha takes charge; next in 2028: the Sodhe Matha.

05
उत्सव

प्रमुख पर्व एवं उत्सव

Saptotsava (annual 7-day)Pausha (January; from 5 days before Makara Sankranti); 2026: ~9-15 January 2026

Theppotsava + Brahma Ratha procession + 3 chariot festivals; Makara Sankranti is the peak — the idol-installation anniversary (1285 CE)

Paryaya Mahotsava (biennial; 18 January even years)Magha (18 January even years); 2026: 18 January 2026 (Shiroor Matha assumes charge at ~02:30 AM)

The Ashta-matha Paryaya handover ceremony; a complete 16-year cycle; preparatory ceremonies one year prior (Baale + Akki + Kattige + Batha)

Madhva NavamiMagha Shukla Navami; 2026: 27 January 2026

Commemoration of Madhvacharya's disappearance at the Anantheshwara temple in his 79th year; the anniversary of his departure for Badarikashrama

Sri Krishna Leelotsava / Vittal Pindi (Krishna Janmashtami)Ashtami-Rohini (per the Kerala-Karnataka solar panchang); 2026: ~5-6 September 2026 (per the Madhva-Vaishnava tradition, 1 day after the Smarta tithi)

An annual night-festival; Hulivesha (Tiger Dance) traditional folk-art hallmark

Makara SankrantiPausha Shukla; 2026: 14 January 2026

The idol-installation anniversary (1285 CE); the peak day of Saptotsava

Ratha SaptamiMagha Shukla Saptami

Surya-Ratha festival

Hanuman JayantiMargashirsha (December)

Mukhya-Prana Hanuman upasana (the central Madhva tirtha)

06
आस्था

मनोकामना एवं फल

West-facing Krishna darshan sankalpa (through the Kanaka Kindi window)

The world's unique west-facing Krishna tirtha; the west-facing idol on account of the Kanaka Dasa narrative; darshan through the inner Navagraha Kindi (9 holes) + the outer Kanakana Kindi (torana); a 'bhakti-above-all' sankalpa tirtha

स्रोत: Wikipedia Kanakana Kindi + India-A2Z + Travel.earth multi-source

Madhva Navami vrata sankalpa (Madhvacharya disappearance anniversary)

Magha Shukla Navami (27 January 2026) — commemoration of Madhvacharya's disappearance day; a Dvaita-Tattvavada sankalpa tirtha

स्रोत: Dharma Renaissance Blog + Drikpanchang + Hindu-Blog multi-source

Paryaya Mahotsava darshan sankalpa (biennial 18 January)

The Ashta-matha Paryaya-handover ceremony at ~02:30 AM; in 2026 the Shiroor Matha takes charge; the world's unique hereditary-rotation administration darshan sankalpa tirtha

स्रोत: The Week + Daijiworld + Karnataka Tourism multi-source

Saptotsava darshan sankalpa (annual 7-day Makara Sankranti)

The idol-installation anniversary (1285 CE) + Theppotsava + Brahma Ratha + 3 chariot festivals; Udupi's annual peak utsava

स्रोत: Deccan Chronicle + Hans India + Udayavani multi-source

Daily annadana partaking sankalpa (the world-renowned Udupi cuisine)

Lunch 12:00-14:00 + dinner 19:00-21:00; the world-renowned Udupi cuisine style traditional meal; Ashta-matha supported; a service sankalpa tirtha

स्रोत: Temple Darshan Time + Karnataka Tourism multi-source

Dvaita-Vedanta (Madhva Tattvavada) upasana sankalpa

The supreme tirtha of the Madhvacharya-founded Dvaita-Vedanta (Tattvavada) sampradaya; distinct from Advaita (Shankara) and Vishishtadvaita (Ramanuja); the Madhva-sampradaya-centre darshan sankalpa tirtha

स्रोत: Wikipedia Madhvacharya + tradition

Parashurama Kshetra Seven Mukti Sthalas pilgrimage sankalpa

Kollur Mookambika + Udupi Krishna + Kukke Subrahmanya + Kumbashi Anegudde Vinayaka + Koteshwara + Shankaranarayana + Gokarna Mahabaleshwar — the Parashurama Kshetra Seven Mukti Sthalas pilgrimage; the Udupi Krishna is the Krishna station

स्रोत: Templenet + Hindu-Blog multi-source

07
जप

मन्त्र एवं स्तोत्र

  • Kanaka Dasa devarnamas (~240 Kannada bhakti songs)Haridasa bhakti songsKanaka Dasa (1509-1609; pen name 'Kaginele Adikeshava')इस मन्दिर हेतुCentral to the Kanaka Kindi narrative; the founder-saint of the west-facing Krishna-darshan tradition
  • Purandara Dasa devarnamas + Svaravali-AlankaraHaridasa bhakti songs + Carnatic-music teaching traditionPurandara Dasa (1484-1564; the father of Carnatic music)इस मन्दिर हेतुUdupi bhakti songs; centred on the Mayamalavagowla raga
  • Dvadasha Stotra (Madhvacharya)Collection of Madhva stotrasMadhvacharya (1238-1317 traditional)इस मन्दिर हेतु12 stotras; a principal component of the Udupi Krishna Matha daily-puja tradition
  • Vishnu SahasranamaSahasranama stotraMahabharata Anushasana Parva
  • Narayana KavachaStotraBhagavata Purana
08
तीर्थाटन

समीप के तीर्थ एवं परिपथ

Anantheshwara Temple (Shiva; 8th-century Alupa-built)100 मी

Udupi's oldest temple; managed by the Puttige Matha; Madhvacharya disappeared here in his 79th year during a discourse on the Aitareya Upanishad (the Madhva Navami narrative); the traditional order is Chandramoulishwara → Anantheshwara → Krishna Matha

Chandramoulishwara Temple (Shiva)100 मी

The traditional order: first to be visited, before the Anantheshwara

Madhva Sarovara (Madhva Pushkarini)50 मी

The pre-puja bath tirtha for the swamis; per tradition, Ganga descends every 12 years; an image of Bhagirathi in the south-west corner; renovated with stone slabs by Sri Raghavendra Tirtha (Puttige Matha) in the 16th century

Malpe Beach + Vadabhandeshwara Temple (Balarama)6 किमी

The Krishna idol shipwreck site; the Balarama vigraha (received together with the Krishna vigraha) installed at Vadabhandeshwara; the historical centre of the Krishna idol's journey from the Malpe coast

Kollur Mookambika (the Devi station of the Parashurama Kshetra Seven Mukti Sthalas)80 किमी

The Devi station of the Parashurama Kshetra Seven Mukti Sthalas pilgrimage

Kukke Subrahmanya (the Naga tirtha of the Parashurama Kshetra)110 किमी

The Naga/Shanmukha station of the Parashurama Kshetra Seven Mukti Sthalas pilgrimage

Murudeshwar Sri Shiva Temple120 किमी

The world-famous 123-ft Shiva idol + the coastal temple

Gokarna Mahabaleshwar (the Shiva tirtha of the Parashurama Kshetra)220 किमी

The Shiva station of the Parashurama Kshetra Seven Mukti Sthalas pilgrimage

Udupi tri-temple traditional darshan order (Chandramoulishwara → Anantheshwara → Krishna Matha)

The final peak darshan: the main Krishna Matha; per the traditional order, darshan of Chandramoulishwara and Anantheshwara is done before the Krishna Matha

3 मंदिर

Parashurama Kshetra Seven Mukti Sthalas pilgrimage

The Krishna station among the seven — Kollur Mookambika + Udupi Krishna + Kukke Subrahmanya + Kumbashi Anegudde Vinayaka + Koteshwara + Shankaranarayana + Gokarna Mahabaleshwar

7 मंदिर

Madhva Yatra (the Dvaita-Vedanta tirtha cluster)

The supreme tirtha of the Madhva sampradaya; the core of the Ashta-matha Paryaya system

8 मंदिर

Udupi + Guruvayur solar-Ashtami-Rohini Krishna tirtha pair

Together with Guruvayur, the two principal Kerala-Karnataka Krishna tirthas that observe Krishna Janmashtami on the solar Ashtami-Rohini

2 मंदिर

Udupi + Malpe-Vadabhandeshwara (Balarama) Krishna-Balarama pair darshan

Pilgrimage of the idol-pair received from the Malpe coast; the historic Krishna-idol-shipwreck centre

2 मंदिर

09
मार्गदर्शन

यात्रा एवं संपर्क

पता
Sri Krishna Matha, Car Street, Thenkpete, Udupi, Karnataka — PIN 576101
हवाई अड्डा
Mangalore International Airport (IXE, Bajpe)
रेलवे
Udupi Railway Station (UD; Konkan Railway) — 2 km from the temple
बस-स्टैण्ड
Udupi KSRTC bus stand (next to the temple); regular Karnataka RTC bus service
उत्तम ऋतु
Saptotsava ~9-15 January 2026 + Makara Sankranti 14 January 2026 (the idol-installation anniversary); Paryaya Mahotsava 18 January 2026 (biennial); Madhva Navami 27 January 2026; Krishna Janmashtami Vittal Pindi ~5-6 September 2026; winter months (November-February) most comfortable for Western-Ghats/Konkan travel; heavy rains in the monsoon (June-September)
प्रबन्धन
The Ashta-matha (8-matha) Paryaya rotation on a 2-yearly term rotation: Palimaru + Adamaru + Krishnapura + Puttige + Shiroor + Sodhe + Kaniyooru + Pejavara; the 2026-2028 Paryaya is the Shiroor Matha (Sri Vedavardhana Tirtha Swamiji; assumed charge on 18 January 2026); the 2028-2030 Paryaya is the Sodhe Matha; a 500+ year-old tradition; Madhvacharya's hereditary establishment
वेबसाइट
https://udupisrikrishnamatha.org ↗
2 किमीUdupi Railway
0.1 किमीAnantheshwara
6 किमीMalpe Beach
60 किमीMangalore
80 किमीKollur Mookambika
120 किमीMurudeshwar
220 किमीGokarna
404 किमीBangalore
880 किमीMumbai
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